Government under fire over panic buying of petrol

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 30 Mar 2012, 07:22

The Guardian - 29/03/12

Francis Maude criticised by Tories, Lib Dems and motoring organisations over his handling of the planned tanker strike.

Article continues ...

and from The Independent today....

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 30 Mar 2012, 08:07

It wasn't only Francis Maude, Call-me-Dave was encouraging it too, though the bleaters in the party will not pick on their boss who could sack them, when they have a scapegoat to stab.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy ... panic.html

Soon afterwards, David Cameron suggested that drivers should fill their tanks. “If there is an opportunity to top up your tank if a strike is potentially on the way, then it is a sensible thing if you are able to do that,” he said.

The Prime Minister yesterday convened the Cobra emergencies committee to discuss contingency planning for a strike, and said that motorists should be taking their own precautions too.

The warnings over supplies sent some motorists rushing to the pumps.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 30 Mar 2012, 10:19

Actually, far better to cause panic this week, when the delivery drivers are still working, refilling the pumps as fast as possible, than wait for the strike to start and then let everybody panic and bring the country to a halt in 48 hours, as happened the last time.

This way, they gain 3-5 days on the strikers before the pumps run dry for real.

Of course, it depends on whose side you are on...

Yesterday demand was nearly 200% of normal. That is one more day before the pumps run dry.

Blue Peter · Post by **Blue Peter** » 30 Mar 2012, 10:28

It does seem a bit odd. Surely most people hearing that a petrol strike was in the offing would have thought, "better top up me tank, then." It doesn't need a government minister to say it, does it?

Peter.

extractorfan · Post by **extractorfan** » 30 Mar 2012, 10:40

Blue Peter wrote:It does seem a bit odd. Surely most people hearing that a petrol strike was in the offing would have thought, "better top up me tank, then." It doesn't need a government minister to say it, does it?

Peter.

Exactly, I heard Maude say it and call me Dave say it, once, then the argument's been repeated over and over and over every half hour on one news channel or the other.

The media can create mass hysteria when a rich bird dies in a car crash, they can also do it when they want to divert attention.

This, IMO, is nothing to do with what the government said, and the paraniod part of me suspects that those in the media and their friends would rather we weren't prepared for certain eventualities.

Post by **clv101** » 30 Mar 2012, 10:58

extractorfan wrote:Exactly, I heard Maude say it and call me Dave say it, once, then the argument's been repeated over and over and over every half hour on one news channel or the other.

The media can create mass hysteria when a rich bird dies in a car crash, they can also do it when they want to divert attention.

This, IMO, is nothing to do with what the government said, and the paraniod part of me suspects that those in the media and their friends would rather we weren't prepared for certain eventualities.

It's EVERYTHING to do with what the government said! Maude and Cameron should have known exactly how the media would react - and speak accordingly. This is not the media's fault, it's the politician's fault.

featherstick · Post by **featherstick** » 30 Mar 2012, 11:28

clv101 wrote:
extractorfan wrote:Exactly, I heard Maude say it and call me Dave say it, once, then the argument's been repeated over and over and over every half hour on one news channel or the other.

The media can create mass hysteria when a rich bird dies in a car crash, they can also do it when they want to divert attention.

This, IMO, is nothing to do with what the government said, and the paraniod part of me suspects that those in the media and their friends would rather we weren't prepared for certain eventualities.
It's EVERYTHING to do with what the government said! Maude and Cameron should have known exactly how the media would react - and speak accordingly. This is not the media's fault, it's the politician's fault.

Like I said in the other thread, no-one's talking about granny tax or millionaires' tax breaks any more.

Post by **clv101** » 30 Mar 2012, 11:36

featherstick wrote:Like I said in the other thread, no-one's talking about granny tax or millionaires' tax breaks any more.

Indeed - they may well have wanted to stimulate this 'panic' for their own ends.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 30 Mar 2012, 12:44

Tanker strike called off - for now.

The union has won a big PR victory here, government caused panic for a non-existent shortage. Now they return to talks, the public forget and drain their tanks to 25% again, and in a couple of weeks the union gives 7 days notice and it all starts again, except the public will react less quickly and more people run out when the actual strike starts.

Unfortunately, the inevitable happened.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/894722-fuel ... in-kitchen

extractorfan · Post by **extractorfan** » 30 Mar 2012, 12:57

I do wonder if the government are responsible for everything that happens, whatever they decide to do

Don't talk about anything = bad
talk about something = bad

The media, don't forget, choose the leaders and run the country, but everyone still buys their line. Incredible.

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 30 Mar 2012, 13:05

extractorfan wrote:I do wonder if the government are responsible for everything that happens, whatever they decide to do

Don't talk about anything = bad
talk about something = bad

The media, don't forget, choose the leaders and run the country, but everyone still buys their line. Incredible.

Informed discussion by HMG is one thing. Inciting panic in the sheeple is quite another.

Don't forget to fill up a jerry can indeed!

extractorfan · Post by **extractorfan** » 30 Mar 2012, 13:22

Aurora wrote:sheeple

Are the one's blaming the government for inciting panic whilst sitting in a queue for fuel because they don't have enough to get through the weekend.

Did anyone here actually hear what was said by HM Gov.?

I really did sound extremely reasonable.

Hey that's interesting, something reasonable in the extreme

Anyway, doesn't matter, it's all the governments fault....w*nkers.

there, i feel much better now.

Blue Peter · Post by **Blue Peter** » 30 Mar 2012, 13:33

extractorfan wrote:
Aurora wrote:sheeple
Are the one's blaming the government for inciting panic whilst sitting in a queue for fuel because they don't have enough to get through the weekend.

Did anyone here actually hear what was said by HM Gov.?

I really did sound extremely reasonable.

Hey that's interesting, something reasonable in the extreme

Anyway, doesn't matter, it's all the governments fault....w*nkers.

there, i feel much better now.

Doesn't bode well for the government telling us something sensible about PO, then,

Peter.

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 30 Mar 2012, 13:44

It gets better ....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog ... etrol-live

As for Francis Maude being responsible for some halfwit deciding to fill a can in her kitchen with a naked flame present.

Ludwig · Post by **Ludwig** » 30 Mar 2012, 13:58

extractorfan wrote:
Aurora wrote:sheeple
Are the one's blaming the government for inciting panic whilst sitting in a queue for fuel because they don't have enough to get through the weekend.

We were at the very least 7 days away from a strike and the Government was talking as though the pumps would be empty by midnight. However, once the Government had incited the panic, panic was indeed appropriate; that's how these things work and the Government knew it.

Unfortunately there is only so far that one can go it alone - at some point one has to give in and do what everyone else is doing, or be left out of the game.